WMO Reports New Record High for Greenhouse Gases

The International Business Times announced greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere hit a record high, according to a report released today by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide have increased to levels unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years, the WMO's 5th Annual Assessment Report stated.

Since the start of the industrial era in 1750, global average CO2 increased by 41 percent, methane by 160 percent and nitrous oxide by 20 percent, the U.N. agency stated.

“As a result of this, our climate is changing, our weather is more extreme, ice sheets and glaciers are melting and sea levels are rising,” Jarraud, the head of the WMO, said.

CO2, the single most important greenhouse gas on a global scale, reached 393.1 parts per million last year, or 141 percent of pre-industrial levels before 1750. The amount in the atmosphere increased 2.2 parts per million from 2011 to 2012, which is above the average for the past 10 years.

“Limiting climate change will require large and sustained reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. We need to act now, otherwise we will jeopardize the future of our children, grandchildren and many future generations.” Jarraud said. “Time is not on our side,” he added.